Scarborough Expressway
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| Scarborough Expressway |
|
| F.G. Gardiner Expressway | |
| Formed: | not completed/cancelled |
|---|---|
| Direction: | East/West |
| From: | Toronto, Ontario |
| To: | Scarborough, Ontario |
| Major cities: | Toronto, Ontario, Scarborough, Ontario |
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Scarborough Expressway (Gardiner Expressway Eastern Extension) was one of many planned, but uncompleted freeways in Toronto, Ontario. Today, it remains the most obvious and critical "missing link" in the city's expressway system.
[edit] History
This road was first conceived as part of planning studies in the 1940's, and detailed planning for the new freeway began in 1967. Construction was expected to begin after completion of the Spadina Expressway (later William R. Allen Road). Early plans had the road travelling beside the CN route in the southern parts of the then Borough of Scarborough, but later plans were to have the highway continue as an eastern extension of the Gardiner Expressway along the shores of Lake Ontario, connecting with Highway 401 by incorporating the existing Highway 2A.
The original 1967 proposal would have seen 1,200 homes demolished for the expressway. After fierce opposition to this plan, the City redesigned the route in 1973. It was moved entirely to within the Lakeshore East CN/GO railway corridor, commencing from the Don Valley Parkway/Gardiner interchange and would be depressed in a deep ditch. The number of homes to be demolished was reduced to 706. However, this did not pacify east Toronto residents who continued to fight the plan. The City shelved the expressway in 1974 to prevent the possibility of the Province stepping in and cancelling it, as they had done with the Spadina Expressway in 1971.
Land and property along the road was bought by Metro Toronto and some infastructure was built. However, Metro faced opposition from the City of Toronto, which caused the road to be severed from the Gardiner Expressway. The fiercest opposition came from eastern Toronto, so this section was deleted. Only a route within Scarborough remained proposed. However, it would have come to an abrupt end at Victoria Park Avenue at the Toronto/Scarborough boundary, potentially flooding east end neighbourhoods with traffic. Local residents continued to fight the plan and appeared before the Ontario Municipal Board to oppose Metro every time it tried to purchase more land for route. Metro Toronto and Scarborough continued to push for the expressway, now known as the Scarborough Transportation Corridor. Along with this corridor, parts of Eglinton Avenue East were considered as a potential arterial highway to releive Highway 401, especially after the extension of the Don Valley Parkway (and later Highway 404) caused increased traffic flow.
[edit] Demise
Up to the early 1990s, Metro and Scarborough both continued to keep the Scarborough Expressway plan alive, but by 1994 the focus on expressways was no longer a planning priority. By 1996, Metro began to plan for the demolition the eastern end of the Gardiner Expressway, thus effectively ending the Scarborough Expressway/Scarborough Transportation Corridor.
Much of the land acquired for the expressway route across Scarborough remains vacant, however the City of Toronto is carrying out studies on what to do with the lands. Ideas include local streets, housing projects and public parkland.
